Fertilization

Feed Your Lawn

A good lawn fertilization program would include a fall application of one pound of available nitrogen per 1000 square feet between mid October and mid November. Follow this by one pound in the spring, from mid May to mid June, or when the lawn exhibits a general yellowing. Apply ½ pound of available nitrogen fertilizer every 4-6 weeks as needed. The purpose of late season fertilizing is to eliminate excess spring growth, maintain fall color, have a taster spring green up, reduce the need for early spring fertilizer, make it less susceptible to disease, and more hardened to summer heat and drought stress. Avoid heavy and infrequent applications. Spread the fertilizer evenly and follow by normal watering to leach the fertilizer from the root zone of the grass. Note: If using a weed and feed fertilizer, follow watering and application directions found on the bag.

After the grass has been established, the use of either a liquid or solid nitrogen fertilizer can be used. Apply at the rate of ½ pound of available nitrogen per 1000 square feet, as needed, usually every four to six weeks.

All additional phosphate fertilizer should be applied in the fall. The application of complete fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium are good sources of nutrients. Nitrogen should be either ammonium sulphate or urea. Try to avoid ammonium nitrate because it tends to promote disease. Expensive lawn fertilizers are not necessarily better.